Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Hi Jackie i am going to push your memory to its limit here cast your mind back to early 1971 you ran the little black Molinari sprint boat and raced it at Covenham Ron Burchell Grimsby and Cleethorpes club held the event we had 3 Merc Twisters running Bob Spalding ran his black Milesmaster boat Mach One and Tom Percival ran for the first time i ever saw him ran the 3rd Twister1 on the boat in the picture which was a Abbate i think it was also painted black.I think John Clabburn had the boat off Tom when he got his new Molinari with the JPS sponsership.

Steve, Have to tell you ——the limit of my memory goes back a lot further than Ron Burchell and Graham Musson at Cleethorpes 1971
Tom was a sailing man and I’ve been told many times, he was very good at it (something I always wanted to do but never found the time).
I know he went to Italy and bought a small Abbatte from Tullio———- it was quick in a straight line but wasn’t in the same league as the Little Molinari ,
I knew John Clayburn bought it from Tom and was very successful, He won the national OI title with it.
I also knew the boat in the picture was the Abbatte with J/C in it———— I just hadn’t got my brain in gear before I opened my mouth.
Toms son is a sailor of international repute ——— and his daughter Katie is one of my son Marks all time favourites people.
"

[powerabout]

Whats Toms's son name?

[jackiewilson]

Whats Toms's son name?

i believe it’s Gary ———Pilgrim, spends a lot of time sailing around your neck of the woods, Australia!

My daughter Sam and husband Clive are on their way to Singapore.
I Used to fly out a week early trying to drag some sponsorship deal or another ———- usually managed to get “Pan Pacific” or the “Mandarin”————- Sam tells me those are Tiny hotels by today’s standards.
I could always pull a couple of traders out of CHANGE ALLEY———- Jimmy and Charles or Honest Harry———— Singapore was full of characters in those days, hookey Rolex’s and bespoke cashmere suits for a tenner.
We did just live the life and set the standard for future generations——— above all—— we had fun.

[jackiewilson]

Whats Toms's son name?

i believe it’s Gary ———Pilgrim, spends a lot of time sailing around your neck of the woods, Australia!

My daughter Sam and husband Clive are on their way to Singapore.
I Used to fly out a week early trying to drag some sponsorship deal or another ———- usually managed to get “Pan Pacific” or the “Mandarin”————- Sam tells me those are Tiny hotels by today’s standards.
I could always pull a couple of traders out of CHANGE ALLEY———- Jimmy and Charles or Honest Harry———— Singapore was full of characters in those days, hookey Rolex’s and bespoke cashmere suits for a tenner.
We did just live the life and set the standard for future generations——— above all—— we had fun.

[powerabout]

i believe it’s Gary ———Pilgrim, spends a lot of time sailing around your neck of the woods, Australia!

My daughter Sam and husband Clive are on their way to Singapore.
I Used to fly out a week early trying to drag some sponsorship deal or another ———- usually managed to get “Pan Pacific” or the “Mandarin”————- Sam tells me those are Tiny hotels by today’s standards.
I could always pull a couple of traders out of CHANGE ALLEY———- Jimmy and Charles or Honest Harry———— Singapore was full of characters in those days, hookey Rolex’s and bespoke cashmere suits for a tenner.
We did just live the life and set the standard for future generations——— above all—— we had fun.

and whats Tom and Gary's family name?
PS I am in Shanghai this week

[jackiewilson]

and whats Tom and Gary's family name?
PS I am in Shanghai this week

My daughter Boo just called in and told me I was dumb and stupid and how could I possibly forget “GUY’S name———— knew it began with a G!
Toms and GUY’S family name is PERCIVAL ———- which is what everyone called him —— PERCY
( with great affection).
Toms wife Jilly is a very memorable lady too Pilgrim.
Enjoy your stay in Shanghai———- Me myself could get as far as Littlehampton, Bognor or even Chichester————- depending which hospital requires my attention.

[jackiewilson]

Got an early morning call from the surgery today——— they wanted an armful of the red stuff to do more tests. Not allowed to drive with this new medication, or use machinery———— got more restrictions than. “The Prisoner Of Zenda” ever did.
In the early sixties when I had a wife, a bunch of kids——- a camper van and a boat. Every summer we would all pile into the van, hook the boat up and head for the French Riviera———- they used to hold the Grande Crossiere———-two weeks of power boat racing and partying. We got to eat for free, every night there was a party, free food and wine after each race———— but more importantly FREE PETROL.
Start was in Monte Carlo then along the coast to Nice, Cannes, Antibes, I’lle des Embiez ———- racing each and every day.
Was here I met Pruett and Ballesteros———Cees Velden——-Arie De Boom ——— contestants from around the world converged here to have two weeks of fun
First raced there in 1965——- had just enough money to get us all down there——— left there with the boat sand camper van fullto the gills with fuel———- cases of wine———-22 trophies, a ten foot inflatable with a five horse power outboard motor and enough cash to make for my time off work.
Still have to this day, many of the friends I made in those early days.

[jackiewilson]

There was one particular race called “THE GO BACKWARD RACE”——- race for 30 minutes clockwise, at the sound of the cannon, Everyone would turn around and race anti-clockwise .
Ths particular race was held just off the island owned by Paul Ricard——- t was called DES EMBIEZ.

[jackiewilson]

Another of the races was held at Juan Le Pins———- reception was held in the casino———- very posh do indeed. First time I ever had caviar, both black and red———- this was the original “HIGH SOCIETY”.
Another time we were taken by boat from Ille Des Embiez to The island of Bandol for the prize giving——- was in a superb castle.
Cant remember exactly where the reception was held in Monte Carlo———- was a bit too gobsmacked to remember much, this wasn’t your normal greasy spoon cafe!

[jackiewilson]

First time Don Ross and I landed in Havasu was 1969————- it was known as SITE 6——— Bob Mc Culloughs test lake. He was into everything from chain saws to Gyrocoptors, outboards and everything inbetween He Seemed to know every driver by his Christian name. He also threw $64,000 into the prize fund.
There was construction going on everywhere———- right in the middle of the desert.
The Ramada and the nautical .. which is where both Mercury and OMC were billeted seemed to be the only two hotels that were habitable.
There were great goings on, don’t remember any restrictions or regulations anywhere, I remember it as the friendliest place I ever visited.
Omc did their “SHRIMP BAKE” which to this day I swear is the best I ever attended in my life.
Scotti won a plot of land right on the lake——- he offered it to Don for $1000 and dropped the price to $500 just before we left.
Breakfast was a family affair——— all drivers, officials, big wigs and people like us, met in the dining room from daft time in a morning until everyone had their fill.

[Bob V]

First time Don Ross and I landed in Havasu was 1969————- it was known as SITE 6——— Bob Mc Culloughs test lake. He was into everything from chain saws to Gyrocoptors, outboards and everything inbetween.

Bob was responsible for the surge in go karting back in the 50's and through the 70's with all those fantastic karting motors derived from chain saw engines. When I was "young" there was nothing cooler than to be running a McCulloch engine or two on your kart. Those were some fun times.

These were my three karts that I raced in back in the 60's and kept until a few years ago. Until I sold them, I would occasionally take them out for a run around the neighborhood. Then the local police finally put an end to my fun (second childhood).

Below: 1960 Bug Sprint with twin Mac 101's.

Below: 1961 Go Kart 1200 with twin Mac 91's.

Below: 1960 Rathmann Xterminator with twin Mac 101's.

[FUJIMO]

Jacko...Any word from Mark regarding Old Blue? A couple of us were just wondering, lol......thanx

[jackiewilson]

Jacko...Any word from Mark regarding Old Blue? A couple of us were just wondering, lol......thanx

Happy New Year Fuji, if you can get any word out of Mark regarding Old Blue —- you might give him a nudge regarding “The Cosworth “ ——- I understand everything has been shipped up to the new facility at Fort Pearce.
Another one looking to cram 28 hours into a day.
Last time I spoke to him on the subject ——— he still didn’t know whether to do it all chrome-n-Show or authentic !

[jackiewilson]

Pilgrim, i meant to tell you, but forgot———- Sam was staying at the Fullerton in Singapore But is Now “Island hopping “ for a couple of weeks ———- I lose track of where she’s off to next.
I realised I was old some time ago, but refused to recognise the fact. Needed a positive sign——— like an-arm or a leg falling off——— then I might consider it in-depth.
Well, the time has come the Walrus said——— was confined to bed for New Year’s Eve———concoctions of pills and potions have not done me any favours——— managed to chuck-up everything I’ve eaten since Christmas Day and sweat out all that fine fifteen year old malt I’ve been sipping so frugally.
Shall Be glad to see the arseend of 2017—
Still got full use of my two index fingers, so I could be a damn nuisance for some time yet,
Havent even got a visit to the shop pencilled in yet——— see what 2018 chucks up ,

[powerabout]

I am up in shanghai so i would have missed them anyway.